Laundry mechanism and method



April 10, 1934. L. PIERCE 1,954,261

LAUNDRY MECHANISM AND METHOD 1 Filed Oct. 2, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 A ril10, 1934. L. PIERCE v 1,954,261

LAUNDRY MECHANISM AND METHOD Fi1ed-0ct. 2, 19s 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 April10, 1934. L. new; 1,954,261,

LAUNDRY MECHANISM AND METHOD File d Oct. 2, 1928 I 4 Sheets-Sheet sApril 10,1934. L. PIERCE 1,954,261

LAUNDRY MECHANISM AND METHOD Filed Oct. 2', 1928, 4 Sheets-Sheet 4flm-yg-fwawr 12/4764 l/l/af flaw? Jaw/z {ii/6 chine such as is i 5 blue,and the like.

Patented Apr. 3, 1934,,

LAUNDRY MECHANISM AND METHOD Lucien Pierce, Malden, Mass, assignor, bydirect and mesne assignments, of one-half to George W; Hooper, Salem.Mass., and one-half to Family Laundry Company Malden, Malden,. Mass, acorporation of Massachusetts Application October 2, 1928, Serial No.309,701

controlling the series of steps required for the washing of a batch ofclothes.

Figure 2 is an end elevation of a portion of the mechanism shown inFigure 1. Figure 3 is a fragmentary side elevation of mechanism foroperating a water valve.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary portion of certain mechanism included in themachine.

Figure 5 is a transverse section of the cam drum. quired for uniform andsatisfactory results. Figure 6 is a fragmentary elevation of the Thesesteps require frequent changes of water surface of the cam drum, showinga pair of and the introduction from time to time of other adjustable camlugs t e eon. laundering agents such as soap, bleach, sour, Figure 7 isa section on the line l7 o According to the customary ure 6. practice,these substances are severally inserted igures 819 inclusive arediagrammatic views into a washing machine in separate steps of theshowing an illustrative arrangementof lugs for Washing cycle, themachine being operated to controlling each individual element which isemtumblethe fabrics within the washing cylinder ployed in the washingprocess. for given periods of time, at the end of each of Referringtothe drawings in detail; 20 reprewhich an alarm may ring to notify theattendsents a commercial washing machine of the horiant that the clothesare ready for the next step. zontal cylinder type such as is commonlyused If the attendant is busy with another machine, in power laundries.This machine is conventionthis means thatthe process in the firstmachine ally indicated on the drawings since the structure goes on afterthe alarm has sounded, using unof such machines is well known. The innerpernecessary power and consuming unnecessary forated cylinder which iswithin the casing and time. By my invention, I provide means for auwhichcontains the fabrics to be washed may be tomatically operating thewashing machine rotated by any desired power means (not shown). throughall the various steps of washing a batch A dump valve 21 is provided forthe purpose of of fabrics, and for stopping the entire machine emptyingthe casing of liquids therein when deat the end of a washing cycle, thismeans being sired. This valve is preferably of relatively adjustable tovary the periods of operation for large cross section to permit the washwaters to the different steps to suit the particular circumrun outquickly when the valve is opened, and may stances, such as the conditionof the clothes to be operated by arock shaft 22 to which is/at- 5 bewashed. By my invention, I secure a more tachedacrank arm 23, the latterbeing automati thorough and, uniform washing of fabrics and] callycontrolled as will be hereinafter described. at the same time effectthis result with a saving For the introduction of wash waters and otherof time through the proper regulation of time Washing fluids into themachine, I may provide for each step, of temperatures of the washing,

a suitable conduit 24 extending along one side of and of the amounts ofmaterials used. These dethe casing 20 and connected thereto by a seriesof sirable results are brought about by novel mechslots 25 or otherconvenient apertures spaced anism which controls. the introduction andrealong the casing 20 and preferably slightly above moval of the washingsubstances and insures a 4 Claims.

This invention relates to mechanism for automatically regulating thevarious steps required for the washing of fabrics, such as clothing,bedding and the'like. While the invention is applicable to washingmachines of domestic or commercial type,it is disclosed hereinafter asapplied to a commercial type of washing magenerally used in powerlaundries. In'the washing of a batch of fabrics in a power laundry, manyseparate steps are rethe highest water. level customarily employedthorough admixture of the various laundering withinthe casing. Thislocation of the conduit insures that all the wash water which isadmitted through the valve controlling the water supply, enters thewashing compartment and is used therein. This construction avoids thewaste, incurred where water supply pipes enter the casing below theoperating waterline, of idle water which stands in the pipes during thewashing operation and drains unused through the dump valve with the usedwater in the casing. Where large supply pipes are employed and there are5 agents with the charges of wash waterbefore their introduction intothe machine, also by automatic regulation of the successive periods oftime during which these washing processes are carried on.

For a more complete understanding of the invention, reference is had tothe description thereof which follows and to the drawings, of which,-+ j

Figure 1 is a'rear elevation of a washing ma- 35 chine together withapparatus for automatically f equent changes of water in a machinethrough- 110 sponsive element within the casing 20.

The various washing materials which are used in washing a batch offabrics are preferably introduced into the stream of water which isentering the casing 20. This insures a thorough mixing of theseingredients with the water before they enter the casing. The spacedopenings 25 insure the immediate and substantially uniform distributionof these substances through the wash at the very beginning of thewashing period. This is a great practical improvement over the practiceof introducing a quantity of soap, blue or other ingredient into themachine at one point and allowing this material to diffuse itselfthrough the solution by the motion of the cylinder within the machine.Where such methods are used, it often takes a considerable portion ofthe washing period for such ingredients 'to become evenly distributedthroughout the wash so that their effect on the fabrics is varied, someof the fabrics getting too much and others too little. In order toregulate the quantity of each ingredient for a washing operation, I mayintroduce each ingredient through a measuring receptacle which forconvenience I will term a doser. As shown, I provide two such'dosers2'7, 28, the former being for the blue, sour, bleach, and other coldingredients. The doser 28 is provided to measure the soap whichispreferably supplied hot in order to maintain it in liquid form foreasy handling. Suitably positioned at a level above the machine, Isupply a series of receptacles or storage tanks 29,30, 31 and 32, thesetanks as shown being respectively for blue, sour, bleach, and soap. Itis to be understood that the number of tanks shown herein is merely byway of illustration and that I do not limit myself tothis or any otherdefinite number, but may use as many tanks as the ingredients desiredfor a complete washing operation. Since the doser 2'7 is of fixedcapacity; I preferably regulate the actual quantities of blue, sour, andthe like, to enter the machine for each batch of washing by suitablydiluting the solutions of these ingredients so that the doser whenfilled will contain a solution having the correct amount of ingredienttherein for one batch. Suitable heating means 33, such as steam pipes,or the like, may be provided in the tank 32 to maintain the soap insuitably liquid condition. The doser 28 and the piping associatedtherewith may also be lagged. or supplied with a heating jacket asdesired in order to maintain the soap hot as it descends from the tank32 to the machine 20.

The admission of water,steam, soap, and other ingredients into themachine 20 may be regulated by a number of suitable valves. As indicatedin Figure 1, the hot and cold water is supplied through an automaticvalve 34 which is preferably of a type well known in the art, by whichthe flow of the hot and cold water may be independently regulated by themanipulation of separate handles 35, 36. The flow through each of thesevalves may be regulated by the 7 height to which its operating handle israised.

A. rack 340 or similar device is attached to each operating handle andis caught by a pawl 341 when raised so that its valve is held open untilthe pawl is disengaged; Both pawls341 for the hot and cold water valvesmay be mounted on bell-cranks having outwardly extending arms 342. Inorder to trip both pawls at once, a lever arm 343 may be arrangedbetween the arms 342 and may be provided with a cross-piece 344 adaptedto engage the lower faces of both arms. Thereupon the handles 35, 36descend under their own weight and close both the hot and cold watervalves. For the control of the other ingredients, I may supply a numberof valves 37 which may be of any desired type actuable preferably by thereciprocation of a stem projecting from the valve casing. Valves of thistype are well known in the art and need not be described in detail. Thesteam may be supplied to a suitable pipe 38 which passes through one ofthe valves 3'7 and the thermostatically controlled valve 261 and entersthe conduit 24 in such a .way as to project a jet of steam along. thisconduit toward the openings 25. The soap tank 32 may be connected withthe doser 28 as by a pipe 39 through a valve 3'7, the doser in turnbeing connected to another valve 37 and a pipe 40 toa pipe 41 whichleads from, the water valve 34 to the conduit 24. The connection of thepipe 40 with the pipe 41 is preferably made in such a way that thestream of water flowing through the pipe 41 acts as an aspirator andvassists in the flow of the soap through the pipe 40. The supply tanksfor blue, sour, and bleach, may be connected respectively by pipes 42,43 and 44 to the doser 2'7, each of these pipes having a valve 3'7therein. The dose;- 2'7 in turn is connected as by a pipe 45 through avalve 3'7 to the pipe 40 which as previously mentioned enters the pipe41 and the conduit 24. In order to permit the escape of air from thedosers'2'7 and 28 and to facilitate the rapid and complete filling ofthese dosers, each may be supplied with a suitable vent, preferably ofsmall cross section. These vents 46 and 4'7 may be connectedrespectively with the tops of the dosers 2'7, 28 and rise abovethe topsof the storage tanks '50 that overflows through these vents isprevented. The cubic capacity of these vents is negligible so that achange of level in a tank does not appreciably affect the quantity ofingredient measured from that tank by the doser. This system of valvesand piping may be supported as by suitable standards 48 or any otherdesired means.

' The action of the various valves 3'7 and the valves 34 and 21 may becontrolled by any suitable mechanism. I may, for example, provide anumber of cams mounted on one or more cylinders. As shown, a pair ofcylinders 49, 50 are provided mounted on a common shaft 51 which ispreferably rotated by a suitable constant speed motor 52. This motor maybe suitably geared down or otherwise connected with the shaft 51 so asto turn the shaft relatively slowly. I do not limit myself to anyparticular speed but for the purpose of illustration will describe acontrol mechanism making one revolution in somewhat more than themaximum period of time which would ordinarily be required for a completewashing operation. As illustrated on the drawings, the shaft- 51 maymake a revolution every ninety minutes, or an hour and a half. Thisperiod is more than ample for any ordinary wash if the various steps ofthe operation are carried out successively without waste of time inbetween. If desired, however, the period of revolution of the shaft anddrums may be longer 1,954,261 with a series of circumferential grooves53 in which are carried one or more cam members 531 having portionsprojecting radially outward beyond the cylindrical surface of the drum.These cam members are preferably secured in the grooves 53 in such a wayas to be adjustably movable about the periphery of the drum so that theparticular operation which each cam controls may be performed at anydesired time in the cycle of operations. To this end grooves 53 may beundercut, "as shown for example in Figure 6, each cam member beingprovided with a suitable block 532 with radially extending bolts 533 bywhich the cam member may be adjustably secured to the drum. As shown inFigures 2 and 4, each cam member may cooperate with a bell crank leverarm 54, at the end of which is preferably mounted a suitable roller 55adapted to engage the cam members and to be moved thereby so as to rockthe arm 54 and thereby to raise a lever arm 56 which is rigidlyconnected therewith, the arms 54 and 56 being rockably mounted onasuitable shaft such as 57. The.

forward face 534' of each cam member 531 is preferably steep so that inspite of the slow motion of the drums, a roller 55, upon meeting a cammember, climbs quickly up its face. As shown in Figure 5, the rear face535 of each cam member 531 may be curved with a radius substantiallyequal to the arm 54 so that when the roller 55 reaches the end of thetop face 536, it rolls quickly down the rear face 535, thus causing aquick operation of the valve or other instrumentality controlled by thecam member. As shown in Figure 1; one of the bell cranks 54, 56 isconnected as by a wire or suitable tension member 58 to the lever 23which controls the dump valve. Another bell crank is connected to thecold water valve handle 35 as by a rod or other connecting member 59.Another bell crankis connected to the hot water handle 36 as by a rod orother connecting member60. While a washing cycle may be carried'throughwith either hot or cold water alone for each of the successive steps, itmay be desired in some cases to mix the hot and cold for some of thesteps in order to obtain water of desired intermediate temperature. Tothis end the hot and cold water valves should be opened to admit desiredproportions. This may be accomplished by a releasing mechanism asillustrated in Figure 4. As shown the arm 56' has attached thereto anend member 61 provided with a perforation 62 through which the upper endportion of the rod 59 extends. A similar device may be provided for therod 60, as shown in Figure 1. The rod 59 is notched so as-to provide a.shoulder 63 which rests on the upper surface of the member 61. Below themember'61 the rod 59 may be provided with a projecting portion 64 havinga sloping cam face 65 which bears against a fixed lug 66 supported bythe frame of the mechanism. The sloping face 65 rides against the lug 66when the rod 59 rises to a suflicient height, and the rod is thus pushedlaterally so that the shoulder 63 slips off the member 61 and the rod 59is released from the arm 56. This limits the extent of opening of thevalve which is held open by a ratchet and pawl mechanism adapted to betripped by float-actuated mechanism as hereinafter described. As thelocation of the lug 66 determines the point at which the valve rod 59 or60 is released from its arm .56, the amount of opening of the valve maybe readily adjusted by shifting the lug up or down on the slot 621 overwhich it is secured as by a bolt 622 and nut. In order to shut the valve34 and thus to stop simultaneously the flow of hot and cold water intothe machine 20 the tripping lever may be provided with a counterweight345 which is heavy enough to swing the lever 343 up to disengage thepawls 341. A suitable cord orchain 67 may be secured at one end to theweight 345, this cord or chain being passed over a pulley 68 and securedat its other end to a float 69 in a vertical cylinder 70 which isconnected to the container 20 as by a pipe 71 entering the containernear its bottom so that the water level in the cylinder 70 is the sameas that in the container 20. The free weight of the float 69' issufficient to hold up the counterweight 345 and thus to maintain thepawls 341 in engagement with their racks 340. When the water in thecontainer 20 and the 'cylinder 70 rises 'sufliciently to buoy up thefloat 69, the tension on the chain 67 is relaxed and the weight 345 ispermitted to operate the trip lever 343, thus causing both valves toclose. In order to provide for various quantities of water for differentsteps of a washing cycle, thepulley 68 over which the chain 67 passesmay be secured to an arm 56 so as to be raised to different heights bysuitable cams as and when desired. Since the water level will have toreach the float before the water valves are. closed, the container 20vmay thus be filled to any desired level by the use of cams ofproportional heights and of sufficient lengths to hold the pulley in itselevated position long enough to allow the water to reach the desiredlevels. For example in Figure 9 cam members of three different heightsare illustrated, but it is understood that cams of other heights may beintroduced if desired to obtain other le'vels'of water in the tank 20.As shown, certain of the cam members 72 will elevate the arm 56 a shortdistance so that a relatively small amount of water will be admittedinto the machine before the valve 34 is closed. Cam members 73 aresomewhat higher and permit a higher level in the tank before the valve34 closes. A still greater amount of water is admitted by a higher cammember 74 as is desirable for the final rinse. These cams are preferablyadjusted on the drum to operate just before the water valves are opened.The lowest cams 72 may be omitted by regulating the length of the chainso that the float 69 will be suspended at water-level of the minimumcharge of water which is "to be put into the machine, when thecorresponding cam follower 55 rests on the surface of the drum itself.In such case, the heights of the cams 73 and 74 will thus be determinedby the differences between the higher levels desired and the minimumlevel.

In order to control the supply of the various washing ingredients to themachine, movable cam control arms 56 may be provided for each of thevalves 37. These valves as previously stated are preferably of a' typeactuable by a reciprocating stem projecting from the valve casing. Thisstem as shown in Figure 2 may be connected to 76 for the purpose ofclosing the valve 37 when the arm 75 is released. In order to open eachvalve 37, a tension element 77 may be employed to connect each valve arm75 with its corresponding cam-actuated arm 56. Thus there is a separatecam-actuated arm 56 corresponding to each of the valves 37 between thesupply tanks 29, 30, 31 and the closer 27. There is also a separatecam-actuated lever 56 for the valve 37 between the doser 27 and theconduit 24. In like manner, the valves 37 between the soap tank 32and'the soap doser 28, between the doser 28 and the conduit 24, andbetween the steam'supply and the conduit 24, are each independentlyoperated by a separate set of cams. Figures 8 to 19 inclusive illustratediagrammatically thearrangement of the several sets of cams foroperating the various valves which are employed in carrying out thesuccessive steps of a complete-washing operation. The drums 49, 50 maybe set at the zero mark as by a convenient hand wheel .78 atthebeginning of a washing operation. vWhen the .batch of fabrics is in thewasher 20, the motor52 may be started and the washing operation willproceed automatically as controlled by the cams on the drums 49 and 50.An illustrative washingoperation will be described, it being understoodthat I do not limit myself to this or any other sequence of steps butthat the cam members may be arranged as desired to carry out any washingoperation desired. Starting with the cam drums set at the zero mark, itwill be seen from Figure 8 that the dump valve 21 is closed. The floatis thereupon elevated by the raising of the pulley 68 so as to engagethe pawls and ratchets of the valve 34 to be ready to hold the handles35, 36 elevated. As hereinbefore stated, the length of the chain 67 maybe such that the pawls and ratchets of the valve 34 are always engagedwhen the level of the waterin the container is below that of the minimumcharge. The hot water side of the valve 34 is immediately opened asindicated inFigure 10 and the valve 37 connecting the soap doser with,the conduit 24 islikewise opened. This permits an inflow of hot waterfor the first step in the washing operation. After washing for about tenminutes with hot suds, the

dump valve is opened for a sufficient time to allow the first wash waterto drain out; The hot water may be supplied at the temperature desiredfor several of the steps of the washing process, or at any otherconvenient temperature, steam or cold water being used as required toregulate the temperature in the container. After the first water hasbeen drained, the second supply of hot water is admitted to the machine,the float being raised in order to hold the valve 34' open until thewater in the machine reaches the proper level. As indicated in Figure 12during the first washing operation, the soap inlet valve between thesoap tank 32 and the doser 28 is opened so as to permit the doser to berefilled before the second step of the washing operation begins. As thesecond supply of hot water is admitted, the doser 28 is opened as shownin Figure 11 to mingle with the hot waterand enter through the openings25 in the form of suds. In the example of a washing cycle illustrated, ahigher temperature may be desired for the second and third waters. Tothis end the steam supply is turned on as the second wash water entersthe machine, the steam supply being regulated during these steps as by athermostat 262 to maintain the desired temperature in the machine.

After about ten minutes of washing, the dump valve is again opened andthe second wash water is drained. The steam is keep the temperatureelevated during this change.

The hot water is again turned on'with a fresh supply of soap as shown inFigures 10 and 11. During the succeeding washing operation, the soapdoser 28 is again refilled from the tank 32. At the end of about fifteenminutes of washing, the third step is ended by opening the dump .mittedfor the various washing steps. Ibleaching operation is pleted, a cammember main switch 83.

kept on inorder to claims.

valve and draining the suds from the'machine. Hot water is againadmitted for, the fourth time to rinse the fabrics. After'a short periodof rinse, about five minutes, this water is drained and a fifth chargeof hot water is admitted, accompanied by a charge of bleach from'thedoser 27. It will be noted from Figure 9 that the cam member '73elevates the pulley 68 and float 69 to a level higher than for the othersupplies of water thus far. In order words, a greater quantity of wateris admitted for the rinsing step than is ad- The carried on for aboutten minutes whereupon the bleach water is drained from the machine. Thesixth and seventh charges of water, as indicated in Figure 10, are clearfor'rinsing the bleach from the fabrics. As shown in Figure 9, thesesupplies of water may be up to the second level in the machine. I Theeighth supply of water is also hot and to it is added a supply of souras shown in Figure 14. This sour has been admitted to the doser duringthe previous washing step as indicated in Figure 16. This washing stepis carried on for about five minutes and the sour is then drained fromthe machine. The ninth step consists in the admission of cold wateraccompanied by blue to the second level in the machine, the actuation ofthe cold water valve being indicated in .Figure '18 and the opening ofthe doser being indicated in Figure 14. As shown intFigure 1'7, thedoser has during the previous washing step been filled with blue fromthe tank 29. The final washing step isa cold rinse'with cold wateradmitted to a still higher or third level in the machine. This is abrief rinse, say three minutes, after which the dump valve is opened andthe machine may be automatically stopped.- The stopping mechanism maycomprise an electric switch mounted L for operation by a cam-actuatedlever 56. Whenthe cycle of washing operations is com- 531 may be mountedto actuate a switch closing lever 56. Closing .of the switch 80, asshown in Figure 1, completes a cir- 1 cuit through a solenoid 81 and asuitable source .of energy 82. The armature of the solenoid may beconnected to a main switch 83 in such a way that energization of thesolenoid opens the main switch, stopping the motor 52 which drives thecam drums, and the motor which drives the washing machine itself. If themachine is belt driven,

the solenoid armature may beconnected to a suitable belt-shifter inamanner well known in the art. In order to. avoid waste of current fromthe battery or other energy source 82, the solenoid may be arrangedtoopen a switch 84 in its 'own circuit simultaneously with the openingof the In starting the machine on itsv next cycle, the cam drums mayfirst be turned as by a' hand wheel 78 to the zero mark. Then themachine and automatic mechanism are started by hand, and the cycleproceedsautomatically. The movable mounting of the cam members permitsany -desired variation of the steps recited as illustrative of acomplete washing operation.

Any of the periods can be shortened or lengthened atwilL Having thusdescribed certain embodiments of this invention, it should be evidentto'those skilled in the art that various changes and modificationsmightbe made therein without departing from its spirit or scope asdefined by the 1 appended 1. In combination with a container forwashing-fiuids and fabrics to be washed, means for supplying quantitiesof water to said container at predetermined times during a washingcycle, and mechanism for supplying measured amounts of other launderingagents with some ofsaid quantities of water, said mechanism including ameasuring receptacle, a plurality of storage tanks 1 for said otherlaundering agents, pipes leading from said tanks to said receptacle andfrom said receptacle to said water supply means, valves in all saidpipes, means for automatically operating said valves to fill saidreceptacle successively with said other laundering agents and to drainsaid agents into said water supply means at times definitely related tothe times of introduction of said quantities of water into saidcontainer.

2. A method oi supplying to a washing ma.- chine predeterminedquantities of washing substances for washing purposes, Which cQmprisespreparing separate solutions of said substances of such strength thatlike volumes of the several solutions contain the desired amounts of therespective substances therein for the batch of articles to be washed,successively collecting in and discharging from said machine successivecharges of water for the several steps of a washing cycle, andintroducing into respective charges of water for certain of said stepsof the washing cycle like volumes of corresponding washing substances,

each said substance being introduced into the respective charge of waterprior to the entry of said water into the machine.

3. A method of supplying quantities of washing substances for washingpurposes, which comprises poses, which comprises preparing separatesolutions of said substances of such strength that like volumes ofsolutions of the several substances I contain the desired amount of therespective substancesfor a single batch of washing, and mess uring intosuccessive pools of water of suitable size for washing purposeslikevolumes of selected solutions.

LUCIEN PIERCE.

